Texas Ethics Commission

A top Texas House committee on Thursday re-examined a possible crackdown on anonymous donations from “dark money” political groups, defying Gov. Rick Perry, who has already vetoed a plan that would have subjected them to stricter disclosure laws.

George P. Bush is raising money for his Texas land commissioner campaign at a clip befitting his famous political pedigree, saying Monday that he collected $2 million during the first six months of the year for a race that looks to be a slam dunk.

A new push, called “Battleground Texas,” officially launched Tuesday with the goal of seizing shifting demographics to make the Lone Star State eventually winnable for a Democratic presidential candidate.

Texas prosecutors are stepping up their investigation of a lawmaker who admitted he pocketed thousands of dollars in state travel reimbursements, just as officials are laying out plans to tighten ethics rules at the Capitol.